Propelling means for boats.



W. H. ENGLE.

PROPELLING MEANS FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 190B.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

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lvwenroz WttMQ/OSGO X 6.

atmnuf W. H. ENGLE.

PROPELLING MEANS FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1908.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Unuenfoz Witumu WILLIAM H. ENGLE, TRACY, CALIFORNIA.

PROPELLING mans roanoa'rs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application flled'aug-ust 18, 1908. Serial No. 448,417.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ENGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tracy, in the county of San Joa uin and State of California, have invente certain new and useful Im rovements in Propelling adapted to receive water at its front end and deliver the water from its rear end, the propeller being located in this passage and deriving its propelling force y pum ing or forcing the water from the front en of the boat or vessel to the rear end.

The invention involves specific improvements in construction, the advantages of which will appear more fully by reference to the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a vessel embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view; Fig. 3 is a section on the line xx of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line yy of Fig.

Specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 denotes the hull of the vessel and the numeral 2 a tube extending from the bow of. the vessel to a point intermediate of the same and being joined with branch pipes 3 the rear ends of which-are provided with discharge openings 3*. The front end of the tube 2 is open so as to receive water as the boat is being propelled, and the receiving tube 2 is connected with the delivery or discharge tubes 3 by means of an intermediate tube 4 the ends of which are received in the rear end of the tube 2 and in the thimble 3 joining the front ends of the tubes 3, and of substantially the same diameter as the tube 2. In the tube 4 is located the propeller 5, said propeller being preferably of t e fourbladed ty e and being operated by a propeller shaft 6 connected with the engine 7, the latter being of any suitable type of construction adapted for marine use. The discharge tubes 3 which merge into or are con nected with the thimble 3 diverge slightly extremities.

though they afford in connection with the receiving tube 2 the discharge and intermediate tu es 3 and 4 respectively a continuous passage through the vessel. The propeller shaft 6 passes through a stuIIing box located about where the discharge tubes 3 join and thence to the point of connection thereof with the engine 7.

It will be apparent that by the rovision of the passage way in the hull of t e vessel less reslstance will be offered to the progress of the vessel through the water, the propeller 5 drawing water into the front end of the tube 2 and dischar ing it forcibly from the rear ends of the tu es 3. A large quantity of water is always located at the bow of the vessel and hence the propeller 5 is situated so that there is always a su ply of water u on which it may operate will e propelling t e boat, the invention thus possessing advantages es ciall in this regard when com ared with t e or inary t pe of vessel where- E1 the propeller is locate at the stern of the oat.

At the front end of the tube 2 is located a valve or gate 8 adapted when operated to close said tube at this oint'. In like manner, at the rear ends 0 the tubes 3 are located gate valves 9 which normally occupy positions between the tubes 3, being adapted by horizontal slidin movement to enter the tubes and close t e same at the rear It is contem lated that the ate valves 8 and 9 may e operated by and, or any suitable power mechanism. In large vessels, however, it will be apparent that power mechanism would have to be employed by reason of the size of the valves 8 and 9 and such mechanism is illustrated in the drawings. An operating shaft 10 extends lon itudinally of the tube 2 and at its front en is a gear 11 in mesh with teeth on a rack 12 connected with the valve 8 which moves verticall At its rear end the shaft 10 is locate in the plane intermediate of the discharge ends of the tubes 3 and has a gear 13 at such rear end meshing with teeth on a rack 14, the latter being connected by toggle links 15 with the oppositely slidable gate valves 9 which are adapted to close the discharge ends of the tubes 3. The pulley 16 on the shaft lO'is adapted to be connected with the pulley 17 on the engine shaft of the engine 7 and thus power may be applied to the shaft 10 so as to adjust the gate valves 8 and 9 whentemp ated to provide a pum 18 connected b a drain pipe 19 with the ottom portion 0% the tube 4. The conventional type of centrifugal pump 18 is illustrated in the drawings and is adapted to be operated'by a belt connection from the pulley 17 of the engine 7 to the pulley 20 on the pump shaft. To permit of ready access to the interior of the tubes 2, 3, and 4, it is contemplated to provide a door 21 in the top of the tube 4,

' though said door may be located in any of the tubes, as will be readily understood.

The combined cross sectional area of the tubes 3 will be about the same as the area of the tube 2 so that the tubes 3 will be capable of delivering or discharging from the stern of the vessel the volume of water which is received at the bow. It may be observed that the provision of the closing gate valves 8 and 91s of important advantage also in that when said valves are closed, and the tubes. 2, 3, and 4 forming the passage way in the vessel are pumped free of Water, if the door 21 is kept closed the passage way will form an air chamber adapted to buoy up the vessel should the same meet with some accident whereby theprovision of a buoyant chamber of this nature would be of advantage. instance where the vessel is damaged considerably and in danger of sinking, the use gate valves may be readily operated to In the case ofcollision, for

' of the passage way comprised by the tubes" 2, 3, and 4, as a buoyant chamber would be of reat value and advantage. t is contemplated that the details of construction of the, invention may be modified in accordance with the 'splrit of the invention. V

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new,is: I

1. -In propelling means for vessels, the combination with a vessel embodying a lon itudmal passage Way through its hull, sai passage way having discharge-means at its rear end located at the stern of the vessel and being open at the bow of the vessel, of gate valves forclosingtthe front or receiving and discharge endsof the passage way, a propeller in said passa e way, a motor connected with said propdller for driving the same, means'for operating the gate valves from said motor, and a pump arranged for operation by the motor and connected with the passage way to. drain the same of water on closing of\the gate valves.

propelling means for vessels, the

combination with a vessel provided with a passage way extending from about the stern and having its front end open to receive water and its rear end. provided with discharge means for said water, of a propeller in the length of said passage way, an engine for driving said propeller, gate valves for closing the receiving and discharge ends of the passage way, operating means for simultaneously closin or opening said gate valves and opera le from the engine, and a ump for draining the .assage way when its gate-valves are closed In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM H. ENGLE.

Witnessesz HILAN O. EDsoN, H. O. CHOWDER. 

